Fluid dispenser



June 8, 1965 w. J. LUEDTKE FLUID DISPENSER Filed July 10, 1963 INVENTOR, M225 J. [a ar/ 5 United States Patent FLUID DEFENSE Warren .I. Luedtlie, Racine, Wis, assignor to S. C. Johnson 8; Son, Inc, Racine, Wis. Filed July 10, 1963, Ser. No. 293,954 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-543) This invention relates to a fluid dispenser. More particularly, it relates to a device for dispensing fluids such as shoe polish, wax emulsions, and the like in controlled amounts, with a minimum risk of dripping of the fluid and/ or clogging of the dispensing device.

In the prior art, a large number of fluid dispensing devices have been suggested for'rnetering fluids such as shoe polish or the like onto a dauber, or similar element, in controlled amounts. These devices, invariably have been relatively complicated, requiring a number of interfitting and inter-working elements, with many of such devices being spring actuated. Obviously, the complexity of these devices substantially increases their cost and enhances the possibility of their malfunctioning. Other devices suggested, while being substantially less expensive, demonstrate a tendency to leak and/or clog during storage or while shipping. Therefore, in the past, it has been customary to package liquids, such as shoe polish and the like, in bottles having screw-on lids, possessing a dauber suitably attached to the interior of the lid. The dauber is used as an applier. The amount of liquid retained on the dauber is controlled directly by the user, by dipping the dauber into the fluid container periodically and wiping the excess polish off on the edge of the container. Although such packages have been used extensively, the inherent danger of spillage, particularly in the hands of children or inattentive adults, is forever present. As is apparent, spilled shoe polish, aswell as many other liquids, can be damaging, depending upon where the material is spilled, and is most always very aggravating.

In an effort to reduce this inherent problem of spillage and still provide a package of reasonable expense, a liquid dispenser was designed and described in US. Patent No. 3,038,193, which has been favorably received by the consumer, as apparent from the sales of the product. This dispenser comprises a dauber, a dauber stem, as well as inter-fitting valve sleeves containing fluid conduits in telescoped relationship, all of which require careful tolerances in manufacture. Thus, as is apparent, while the aforesaid fluid dispenser is substantially free from leakage and clogging, and does not contain mechanically working parts, such as springs, the package is relatively expensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a fluid dispenser, possessing the aforesaid advantages, but which contains a minimum number of components which are of extreme simplicity, permitting inexpensive manufacturing. It is another object of the invention to provide a fluid dispensing device in which liquids may be stored in a closed container for an extended period of time and, thereafter, dispensed in an even flow.

It is another object of the invention to provide a valve assembly for dispensing fluids from a. closed container in an even flow and without danger of clogging the mechanism.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a fluid dispenser which is compact, has no mechanically inter-working parts and which permits dispensing of a fluid in controlled amounts in a convenient and safe manner. V 7

These and other objects of the invention ,will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, with particular emphasis being placed upon the drawing.

ICC

In general, the objects of theinstant invention are accomplished by providing a fluid dispensing device comprising as essential components (a) an applicator means Comprising a dauber and stem, said stem having a conduit and pin section, and (b) a fluid container having a flexible top portion which may be constructed separately, or integrally with the body of the container. The flexible top portion will possess a channelled opening for receiving the pin section of the dauber stem in fluid type engagement. When it is desired to dispense fluid from within the container, the valve will be actuated by depressing the dauber, bringing the conduit section of the dauber stem into contact with the metering channel in the top portion, thereby forming a fluid dispensing channel between the dauberand container. Preferably, an overcap, not shown in the drawing, will enclose the dauber and stem by suitable engagement with the top portion of the container, when the product is shipped or placed in storage. As is apparent, the simplified design permits the dispensing of a liquid, such as shoe polish, in controlled amounts, without danger of leakage or clogging, and yet comprises a minimum number of components, greatly simplifying construction and reducing cost.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this application, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the specification;

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment, partly in cross-section, of the dauber and stem;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dished portion of the dauber stem, taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1; p 7 i FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section, of a second embodiment of the dauber and stem;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation, partly in cross-section,

portion of the dauber stem, taken along lines 6-6 of I FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a broken away front view of the container with the pin section of the stem in fluid-tight engagement;

FIGURE 8 is a plane view of the top portion of the container; A

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section of the top portion of the container, taken along lines 99 of FIGURE 8, having the dauber and stem of FIGURE 1 in the flow-through position.

More specifically, referring to the drawing, in FIGURE 1, 1 designates the entire applicator means, i.e., dauber 11 and stem 12. Dauber 11 is attached to stem 12 by adhesive or other suitable means. tern 12 has dished portion 12a, forming a fluid conduit, as seen in crosssection in FIGURE 2, and pin section 12b. FIGURE 7 illustrates metering channel 20 of container top .21 in fluid-tight engagement with pin section 1212. As is apparent, when the channel and stem are in fluid-tight engagement, conduit portion 12a is maintainediabove. the top of container 2. As seen in FIGURES 7-9, as a preferred embodiment, container 2 has a flat top 21 and an upwardly sloping protrusion 22 extending therefrom. The interior of protrusion 22 is gradually tapered .downward and contains radially extending ribs 23 to hold stem 12 in alignment and to establish a flow pattern for the liquid being dispensed, as indicated'by the broken lines shown in FIGURE 7 and from the planev view of FIGURE 8. Thus, metering channel 29 in the container top comprises a tightly fitting flexible or resilient sleeve 24 which meets inwardly flaring protrusion 22 at 22a, forming fluid Patented June 8, 19655.

3 valve stem can be depressed lower than shown in FIG- URE 7, i.e., at least to the bottom of fluid well 25, and still maintain a fluid-tight relationship.

As indicated hereinbefore, to dispense the fluid from the container, dauber 11 is pressed down into the top of container 2 as far as possible in order that conduit section 12a is in contact with both the dauber and the material within the container, providing a channel from the interior of the container to the dauber. Thus, the dished or flatted portion will extend below tightly fitting sleeve 24. By controlling the size of the conduit, the amount of liquid metered through in a given period of time can be controlled. The dauber or sponge is wetted with liquid by turning the container upside down. As seen from the drawing, when the dauber is pressed down, the flatted or dished portion of the wire may stretch the sleeve of the container top. Therefore, the top of the container must be flexible or resilient.

Preferably, the container holding the material to be dispensed will be of the squeeze bottle type, constructed from a flexible material, such as spring metal, a flexible plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, rubber or any of the other many compositions available for fabricating containers possessing flexible sides. The container may be squeezed to force the liquid through conduit 12a, as seen in FIGURE 9, onto the dauber. When pressure is removed from the sides of the container and the container returned to its upright position, air enters, permitting the container to breathe and its sides to return to their normal configuration, since the valve remains in the open position. In use, an even flow of liquid onto the dauber is maintained by the application of the desired amount of pressure upon the squeeze bottle. Alternatively, it may be desirable to employ a conventional glass bottle with a flexible cap. However, if a glass bottle is employed, the opening must be large enough to permit flow of the liquid to the dauber by gravity.

As is apparent from the above description and drawings, numerous modifications can be made, falling within the scope of the invention. Thus, FIGURE 3 illustrates a second embodiment wherein the dauber portion is constructed from a polyurethane foam 13, with a felt-like material 14 attached thereto. As seen more clearly from the front elevation of FIGURE 4, the appearance and surface area of the dauber is substantially modified. It has been found that the dauber of FIGURES 3 and 4 is particularly well-suited for dispensing certain kinds of shoe polish, particularly those containing a high content of pigment. Moreover, as seen in FIGURE 5, in place of dished channel 12a, stem 12 can merely be flattened, as shown at 120, to form the fluid conduit. The conduit passage obtained is seen more clearly from the cross-sew tional view of FIGURE 6. Furthermore, it is possible to have stem 12 constructed in a fluted-like configuration to provide more than one flow-through channel.

As an additional modification, it may be desirable to attach the dauber directly to the container top, with the valve stem of the applier means merely in contact with the dauber. Thus, the stem would possess a flat top in contact with the dauber when the pin section of the stem is in fluid-tight engagement with the container top. Pressure applied to the top of the dauber would seat the valve stem, engaging the conduit portion of the stem with the channelled opening, providing a fluid passage. Preferably, t he conduit passage would extend through the flat top of the stem. This embodiment is well adapted for use with a glass sided container having a resilient top portion, formed from polyethylene or the like, suitably attached thereto.

The dauber can be fabricated from any suitable material capable of absorbing and evenly applying a liquid such as shoe polish or the like, including wool, felt, natural sponge, sponge rubber or plastic foams. Further, the valve stem can be metal, such as iron, or an alloy thereof,

as well as a plastic capable of being machined and strong enough to withstand the necessary pressure. The proper choice of materials will depend upon those available and the fluid to be dispensed. The proper selection is within the ability of one skilled in the art.

As is apparent from the above description and drawing, the novel dispensing fluid device is extremely simple in construction and can be conveniently made, employing simple fabricating techniques. As noted hereinbefore, when the conduit section of the valve stem is positioned above or out of contact with the metering channel in the container, a fluid-tight seal is obtained, which permits storage and shipping of the container and contents without danger of spillage. For actually metering the material, it is merely necessary to press the dauber down toward the fluid container in order that the flatted or dished portion enters the metering channel of the container to allow passage of fluid. The liquid within the container Wets the dauber by inverting the bottle. If the fluid container has flexible sides, which is a preferred embodiment, slight pressure on the bottle will facilitate flow of the liquid. Even when the dauber is pressed down to permit passage of fluid, there is little or no danger of spillage of the containers content, even in the hands of children or unattentive adults, unless the bottle remains in the tipped position for prolonged periods of time.

It should be appreciated that while only the preferred embodiments have been described, the invention is not restricted thereto. Modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art which come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed:

1. A fluid dispensing device comprising in combination a fluid container and an applier/valve means wherein:

( 1) said container has a resilient top provided with a metering channel for receiving said applier/valve means,

(2) said applier/valve means comprises a stem means slidably mounted in and in sealing engagement with said metering channel and has a dauber means suitably attached near one end thereof wherein said stem means comprises:

(a) a pin means, and

(b) an external fluid conduit means extending for a substantial distance longitudinally along the stem from the dauber means to said pin means, and

(3) said metering channel forms a fluid-tight seal when engaged with said pin means and a fluid channel when engaged with said external fluid conduit means to provide a fluid dispensing channel extending from the interior of the container to said dauber means.

2. A fluid dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the metering channel comprises a flexible plastic sleeve.

3. A fluid dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the external fluid conduit means is dished-like.

4. A fluid dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the fluid container is of the squeeze bottle type.

5. A fluid dispensing device comprising in combination a fluid container and an applier/valve means wherein:

(1) said container has a resilient top provided with a metering channel for receiving said applier means, and an external fluid well which communicates with said metering channel,

(2) said applier/valve means comprises a stem means slidably mounted in and in sealing engagement with said metering channel and which has a dauber means suitably attached near one end thereof wherein said stem means comprises:

(a) a pin means, and (b) an external fluid conduit means extending for a substantial distance longitudinally along the stem from the dauber means to said pin means, andt (3) said metering channel forms a fluid-tight seal when engaged with said pin means and a fluid channel when engaged with said external fluid conduit means to provide a fluid-dispensing channel extending from the interior of the fluid container to said fluid well. 6. A fluid dispensing device according to claim 5 wherein the dauber means is in communication with the fluid References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/63 Schultz et a1 15-565 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/48 France.

well when the applier/valve means is in an open position. 10 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A FLUID CONTAINER AND AN APPLIER/VALVE MEANS WHEREIN: (1) SAID CONTAINER HAS A RESILIENT TOP PROVIDED WITH A METERING CHANNEL FOR RECEIVING SAID APPLIER/VALVE MEANS, (2) SAID APPLIER/VALVE MEANS COMPRISES A STEM MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN AND IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID METERING CHANNEL AND HAS A DAUBER MEANS SUITABLY ATTACHED NEAR ONE END THEREOF WHEREIN SAID STEM MEANS COMPRISES: (A) A PIN MEANS, AND (B) AN EXTERNAL FLUID CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING FOR A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE LONGITUDINALLY ALONG THE STEM FROM THE DAUBER MEANS TO SAID PIN MEANS, AND (3) SAID METERING CHANNEL FORMS A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL WHEN ENGAGED WITH SAID PIN MEANS AND A FLUID CHANNEL WHEN ENGAGED WITH SAID EXTERNAL FLUID CONDUIT MEANS TO PROVIDE A FLUID DISPENSING CHANNEL EXTENDING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER TO SAID DAUBER MEANS. 